al-Qaeda in the Maghreb

al-Qaeda ideology spreading virally---this time to Algeria.

Algeria recall in the early 90s had a landslide victory for an Islamist political party. The military coup dissolved the election and civil war ensued. The government forces infilitrated the Islamic resistance movements and perpetrated horrific attacks on civilians, thereby turning the civilian population against the Islamists and towards the government. Pretty brutal stuff.

The government finally called for some amnesty and brought a good number of these former rebels into the political process. But this splinter group responsible for this attack, aimed at the president mind you, is from a group that would not buy into the deals.

Deal making has to be done with Islamists, but not all are going to accept. The al-Qaeda virus is now worldwide in scope and can not be stopped only minimized. For decades to come. We see it already heading where it inevitably will--Africa. That's Somalia, Algeria, Nigeria already. More to come.

This is why it is so crucial to cut whatever least worst deal can be get out of Iraq as quickly as possible. The Defense Secretary today announced longer deployments for the already over-stretched Army. Another sign that the Army is collapsing under the weight of the occupation. Three retired Four Star Generals turned down this week the position of War Czar over Iraq/Afghanistan. Because as one said:

"The very fundamental issue is, they don't know where the hell they're
going," said retired Marine Gen. John J. "Jack" Sheehan, a former top NATO
commander who was among those rejecting the job.

Ouch. The War Czar for those paying attention is what the Dept of Reconstruction should be, should have been. i.e. Why the occupation failed so miserably.